Do any other Christians out there think the "Left Behind" book series is a bunch self-indulgent crap?

Question

While I appreciate everyone's opinion, I would especially like to hear from Christians in particular. Thanks.

I am a Christian and I question the whole modern popular accepted Revelation scenario. At the very least it should be accepted as allegory. John, on Patmos, was being tortured and could have been mentally ill while writing the book. It is at least a possibility.

Even if you take the Bible literally, how could you possibly turn that cryptic text into a logical narrative that plainly states how the end of the world will occur? Impossible in my book.

Anyone else feel the same way?

I could be wrong about the torture thing. I am no Biblical scholar by any means. I had just heard that he had been tortured. If not there, then before he arrived.

No offense to any. But please answer the question and don't quote scripture to me. I have a Bible.

Maybe I'm just not too Proud / Arrogant to think that the Holy Spirit couldn't Use this Series written by 2 Great Christians for the Salvation of Souls??? Maybe as U say, the Problem here is, as a Christian, U Don't follow the Mandates of "Study to show Urself Approved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be Ashamed, Rightly Dividing the the Word of God."

This was just written in this post by MooseMose, who has called me "arrogant" and that I have not shown myself "approved unto God" and that I should be "ashamed". Isnt' this such a good example of Christian love. All because I just asked a question. Thanks for your "kind" words Moose.

Answer 1

I know what you mean. I actually enjoyed the books - up to a point; but after about the third or fourth one in the series, I quit reading them - they were just so darn repetitive in their dramatic structure, modern-day cookie-cutter fiction.

I also agree that Revelation is best interpreted with the Holy Spirit on your heart - and not with they dry literal textbook translation of a fundamentalist Baptist preacher. If even God's elect are to be fooled at the end, then it is highly doubtful that every sign and wonder will be so dog-gone transparent. Just as one small example - that we all have to accept a physical mark of the beast. Who's to say the "mark" might be something far less obvious - like a Social Security Number or an Internet Password?

But yes - I am a Christian - I do accept God's church to be raptured prior to the end - but other than that, I am wide open and very skeptical!

Answer 2

While the books and even the movies are a bit fun and interesting, I am pursuaded to consider them as scriptural ideas with literary and cinematic drama and license.

You say you are a Christian - do you really know that John was mentally ill? Are you even sure that he was being tortured? As far as anyone knows, he was not being tortured. If this were the case, including the mental illness, all of his writings would have been "out there", right?

Yes, it would seem that much of the writing is cryptic. But, if you look at Revelation, just as all the other books of the Bible, it is about Jesus. Much of what appears to be cryptic is the writers best interpretation of what he saw.

You may want to do your own research on the topic. There are quite a few who have studied Revelation (at least a few have to be taken with a grain of salt) and may shed some light on it for you.

Answer 3

The Left Behind series aurthors have never tried to say the books were an absolute.
The books are a fictional account of how the two authors think the Revelation will play out. But they are fiction, not anything else, and don't claim to be.
I thought they were an interesting way of considering how the end time scenario might be, but don't agree with all the details. Still thought the books a great read.

Answer 4

I am a fundamental Christian, and while my understanding of End Time events is not too far off from the way they are depicted in this series, I too have been a bit turned off by the series, maybe for different reasons.

Anytime a Christian author delves off into fictionalizing Biblical events, especially prophetic ones, he/she runs the risk of losing sight of the true Biblical message. Mel Gipson had this problem in Passion of the Christ, Cecil B Demille had it for sure in 10 Commandments, and I could go on and on. No one knows exactly how the events will unfold, and it's really not for us to say.

Best case scenario, LaHaye and Jenkins meant well, and the popularity (and any misinterpretation) of their intentions was the work of Satan, not them. Worst case scenario, they are two more supposedly prominent Christians who got caught up in making a buck off God's Word.

Only a really grounded Christian who can read those books in light of Scripture and accept them as the work of fiction they are can possibly get anything positive out of them--others will just be confused, or use it an an opportunity to mock rather than reverence things of Christ.

No, we don't know exactly how the end of the world will occur. But it's pretty plain from Scripture that the world as we know it WILL end, and that we should get ready for that day by following Christ. Anything beyond that is speculation.

Answer 5

The rapture is not scriptural even in Revelation.

Matthew 24: 21,22 for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again. 22 In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short.
If the righteious were taken to heaven what difference would it make how long it took?
Parents are responsible for their children and their salvation.
Not all children will be saved anymore than the flood drowned everyone but the children. Or what child survived out of Sodom? 1 Corinthians 7:14 For the unbelieveing husband is sanctified in relation to his wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in relation to the brother.
Otherwise: Your children would really be unclean and now they are holy.
So in other words one or the other parent has to be in a saved condition. So all children are not saved.
Nor is it saying that all persons will go to heaven.
Matthrew 5:5 says that the meek will inherit the earth.

Answer 6

The writer of Revelation made it very clear that if anyone tries to add or subtract from the words of that book that its pagues would be added to them. though the 'Left Behind' series is not fully scriptural, it does generate interest in this information and acts as a bridge for people to investigate this concept. It is good to invite people to investigate Godly things. In the first chapter of revelation it says blessed is he who reads and understands the words of this book. It is not a book of blessings for those who are carnal minded. The bible is self teaching so diligent review will reap positive results. In the first chapter it tells you that the stars are the angels of the churches and the lampstands are the churches. Similar explanations are found in other books throughout the bible especially proverbs - psalms - Job.

Answer 7

Pastor Billy says: yes absolutely.

The Left Behind book series is fictional and more importantly they are based on a biblical interpretative tradition which is less than 150 years old. The so-called father of dispensationalism is Charles Nelson (named for Lord Nelson) Darby. He helped start the Plymouth Brethren as a former Anglican priest. Darby left the authentic Christian teaching on endtime events to preach what is now known as the Rapture.

Funny thing about Rapture is... it's word origin is from the Latin and the sects promoting this doctrine have completely rejected the authority of the Latin Church.

Look for the book Rapture Trap by Paul Thigpen

Answer 8

The Bible is the inspired, divine Word of God given to mankind. Not being able to understand how prophecy will turn out doesn't diminish this fact.

In regards to the "Left Behind" series, that series is based upon the author's imaginations and the debatable premise that there will be a "pre-tribulation" catching up or "rapture" of the church.

But what did Jesus and the Apostle Paul say about the return of Christ and the gathering of the church to Himself?

Matthew 24:29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.

8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

Answer 9

I don't believe in the Rapture.
I enjoyed the first couple of books as a good adventure. I thought later on they really struggled to keep anyone interested. So yes, I guess I feel the same way.

Answer 10

Yes Left Behind is wrong, but No the book of revelations is not some allegory.

The battle of Armageddon has never happened, it says that the kings of the east will come down into Meggido to destroy Jerusalem.

If you would like to understand the book of revelations, check out this site, and videos on the topic and you will be convinced we are near the end. However we will be here during the Great Tribulation unlike the Left Behind series teaches.